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Population in the Vatican compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Vatican was 1,000 in 2019 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Vatican's population is 939 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 24,329 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • The Vatican is ranked the 197th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.00001% for the Vatican vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Vatican has had an average growth rate of +1.9% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Vatican has increased from 932 people to 939 (0.75% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Vatican vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Vatican
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Vatican Zambia
2100 2,521 65,204,593
2099 2,506 64,858,778
2098 2,497 64,503,193
2097 2,482 64,136,110
2096 2,469 63,764,760
2095 2,452 63,380,692
2094 2,435 62,980,254
2093 2,421 62,578,008
2092 2,400 62,163,693
2091 2,384 61,738,437
2090 2,359 61,309,330
2089 2,337 60,868,166
2088 2,319 60,422,781
2087 2,291 59,958,303
2086 2,269 59,487,524
2085 2,248 59,011,423
2084 2,217 58,524,337
2083 2,183 58,029,088
2082 2,159 57,527,347
2081 2,129 57,016,267
2080 2,105 56,495,299
2079 2,089 55,972,223
2078 2,068 55,438,864
2077 2,050 54,895,964
2076 2,025 54,350,375
2075 2,001 53,796,265
2074 1,970 53,236,297
2073 1,944 52,666,980
2072 1,912 52,090,884
2071 1,866 51,509,551
2070 1,829 50,921,590
2069 1,795 50,324,793
2068 1,777 49,727,689
2067 1,755 49,125,817
2066 1,729 48,520,891
2065 1,701 47,909,160
2064 1,679 47,290,430
2063 1,651 46,668,252
2062 1,623 46,039,755
2061 1,595 45,407,718
2060 1,556 44,768,534
2059 1,530 44,128,619
2058 1,512 43,485,891
2057 1,493 42,843,489
2056 1,469 42,198,591
2055 1,441 41,550,105
2054 1,419 40,898,440
2053 1,382 40,247,706
2052 1,358 39,596,094
2051 1,335 38,942,292
2050 1,311 38,287,070
2049 1,283 37,626,787
2048 1,256 36,964,032
2047 1,237 36,302,603
2046 1,215 35,638,852
2045 1,192 34,974,927
2044 1,174 34,310,227
2043 1,152 33,645,797
2042 1,135 32,984,164
2041 1,105 32,323,084
2040 1,070 31,658,029
2039 1,033 30,995,204
2038 1,001 30,329,691
2037 996 29,662,721
2036 1,001 28,994,556
2035 988 28,327,922
2034 988 27,665,749
2033 974 27,006,658
2032 964 26,351,393
2031 977 25,697,754
2030 979 25,050,285
2029 985 24,409,600
2028 983 23,776,128
2027 946 23,146,922
2026 933 22,525,308
2025 927 21,913,874
2024 910 21,314,956
2023 927 20,723,965
2022 951 20,152,938
2021 972 19,603,607
2020 987 19,059,395
2019 1,000 18,513,839
2018 - 17,973,569
2017 1,000 17,441,320
2016 - 16,914,423
2015 1,000 16,399,089
2014 842 15,895,315
2013 839 15,398,997
2012 836 14,913,629
2011 832 14,437,796
2010 829 13,965,594
2009 826 13,490,389
2008 824 13,021,324
2007 821 12,565,085
2006 932 12,129,553
2005 921 11,718,819
2004 921 11,338,198
2003 911 10,983,595
2002 900 10,647,949
2001 890 10,325,185
2000 880 10,017,631
1999 - 9,740,005
1998 - 9,482,408
1997 - 9,237,063
1996 - 9,004,053
1995 - 8,785,763
1994 - 8,576,269
1993 - 8,373,921
1992 - 8,176,680
1991 - 7,981,650
1990 - 7,786,169
1989 - 7,589,216
1988 - 7,391,440
1987 - 7,191,282
1986 - 6,986,471
1985 - 6,780,953
1984 - 6,580,490
1983 - 6,381,038
1982 - 6,178,637
1981 - 5,983,289
1980 - 5,802,833
1979 - 5,631,728
1978 - 5,465,374
1977 - 5,302,480
1976 - 5,143,842
1975 - 4,990,086
1974 - 4,842,746
1973 - 4,702,693
1972 - 4,569,309
1971 - 4,442,525
1970 - 4,321,718
1969 - 4,197,116
1968 - 4,065,593
1967 - 3,936,343
1966 - 3,812,003
1965 - 3,692,086
1964 - 3,577,017
1963 - 3,465,907
1962 - 3,358,099
1961 - 3,254,086
1960 - 3,153,729

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/vatican/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2015, the population of the Vatican increased by 68 people (a 7.3% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 11 years, from 2015 to 2026, the Vatican lost 61 people (a 6.1% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

The Vatican was ranked 197th most populous country in 2006 and is still 197th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Vatican's population will grow by 39.6% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The Vatican is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 2.52K people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Vatican
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Vatican Zambia
2100 0.59% 0.53%
2099 0.37% 0.55%
2098 0.6% 0.57%
2097 0.53% 0.58%
2096 0.68% 0.61%
2095 0.69% 0.64%
2094 0.61% 0.64%
2093 0.85% 0.67%
2092 0.7% 0.69%
2091 1.02% 0.7%
2090 0.95% 0.72%
2089 0.8% 0.74%
2088 1.21% 0.77%
2087 0.98% 0.79%
2086 0.91% 0.81%
2085 1.42% 0.83%
2084 1.53% 0.85%
2083 1.12% 0.87%
2082 1.39% 0.9%
2081 1.15% 0.92%
2080 0.8% 0.93%
2079 0.99% 0.96%
2078 0.9% 0.99%
2077 1.19% 1%
2076 1.2% 1.03%
2075 1.6% 1.05%
2074 1.34% 1.08%
2073 1.65% 1.11%
2072 2.49% 1.13%
2071 2.03% 1.15%
2070 1.86% 1.19%
2069 1.04% 1.2%
2068 1.27% 1.23%
2067 1.5% 1.25%
2066 1.64% 1.28%
2065 1.33% 1.31%
2064 1.69% 1.33%
2063 1.71% 1.37%
2062 1.74% 1.39%
2061 2.5% 1.43%
2060 1.7% 1.45%
2059 1.23% 1.48%
2058 1.24% 1.5%
2057 1.64% 1.53%
2056 1.93% 1.56%
2055 1.57% 1.59%
2054 2.68% 1.62%
2053 1.78% 1.65%
2052 1.67% 1.68%
2051 1.84% 1.71%
2050 2.17% 1.75%
2049 2.22% 1.79%
2048 1.5% 1.82%
2047 1.83% 1.86%
2046 1.87% 1.9%
2045 1.58% 1.94%
2044 1.93% 1.97%
2043 1.47% 2.01%
2042 2.68% 2.05%
2041 3.29% 2.1%
2040 3.59% 2.14%
2039 3.15% 2.19%
2038 0.56% 2.25%
2037 -0.56% 2.3%
2036 1.31% 2.35%
2035 0% 2.39%
2034 1.52% 2.44%
2033 0.96% 2.49%
2032 -1.33% 2.54%
2031 -0.19% 2.58%
2030 -0.56% 2.62%
2029 0.19% 2.66%
2028 3.92% 2.72%
2027 1.39% 2.76%
2026 0.6% 2.79%
2025 1.83% 2.81%
2024 -1.8% 2.85%
2023 -2.53% 2.83%
2022 -2.1% 2.8%
2021 -1.5% 2.86%
2020 -1.3% 2.95%
2019 0% 3.01%
2018 0% 3.05%
2017 0% 3.12%
2016 0% 3.14%
2015 18.8% 3.17%
2014 0.36% 3.22%
2013 0.36% 3.25%
2012 0.48% 3.3%
2011 0.36% 3.38%
2010 0.36% 3.52%
2009 0.24% 3.6%
2008 0.37% 3.63%
2007 -11.9% 3.59%
2006 1.19% 3.5%
2005 0% 3.36%
2004 1.1% 3.23%
2003 1.22% 3.15%
2002 1.12% 3.13%
2001 1.14% 3.07%
2000 - 2.85%
1999 - 2.72%
1998 - 2.66%
1997 - 2.59%
1996 - 2.48%
1995 - 2.44%
1994 - 2.42%
1993 - 2.41%
1992 - 2.44%
1991 - 2.51%
1990 - 2.6%
1989 - 2.68%
1988 - 2.78%
1987 - 2.93%
1986 - 3.03%
1985 - 3.05%
1984 - 3.13%
1983 - 3.28%
1982 - 3.26%
1981 - 3.11%
1980 - 3.04%
1979 - 3.04%
1978 - 3.07%
1977 - 3.08%
1976 - 3.08%
1975 - 3.04%
1974 - 2.98%
1973 - 2.92%
1972 - 2.85%
1971 - 2.8%
1970 - 2.97%
1969 - 3.24%
1968 - 3.28%
1967 - 3.26%
1966 - 3.25%
1965 - 3.22%
1964 - 3.21%
1963 - 3.21%
1962 - 3.2%
1961 - 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/vatican/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Vatican declined by 0%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Vatican Zambia
Current population
939
22844606
Population rank 197/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.00001% 0.27%
One net population change
1 month
52.8 seconds
One birth every n/a
45.2 seconds
One death every n/a
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +0 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +0 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +0% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 158/197 19/197
One migration net change every n/a
1.34 hours
Annual migration change n/a +6,562
Net migration rank 47/196
Foreign-born residents n/a 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 105/195
Foreign-born share of population n/a 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Vatican
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Vatican Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - - - 6,562
2024 - - 587,419 7,381
2023 - - 577,660 9,521
2022 - - 563,456 -8,566
2021 - - 535,629 8,143
2020 - - 536,484 8,156
2019 - - 528,089 18,385
2018 - - 515,644 18,431
2017 - - 504,630 25,789
2016 - - 497,521 25,860
2015 - - 491,021 16,261
2014 - - 483,663 16,574
2013 - - 476,846 15,542
2012 - - 469,406 8,958
2011 - - 459,743 13,569
2010 - - 448,337 22,761
2009 - - 434,458 44,867
2008 - - 419,560 39,249
2007 - - 403,729 49,945
2006 - - 387,891 29,517
2005 - - 368,756 35,316
2004 - - 349,352 7,819
2003 - - 331,189 20,845
2002 - - 316,041 3,206
2001 - - 302,682 23,582
2000 - - 293,186 -4,338
1999 - - 283,297 -16,888
1998 - - 275,568 -26,796
1997 - - 268,198 -26,276
1996 - - 262,468 -38,358
1995 - - 257,897 -45,423
1994 - - 252,023 -45,504
1993 - - 245,917 -47,739
1992 - - 239,953 -43,656
1991 - - 237,957 -44,203
1990 - - 235,835 -38,619
1989 - - 233,429 -36,736
1988 - - 230,118 -31,270
1987 - - 227,813 -26,338
1986 - - 224,768 -16,610
1985 - - 221,351 -18,474
1984 - - 216,695 -18,652
1983 - - 212,712 -11,849
1982 - - 207,621 -3,676
1981 - - 202,822 -16,072
1980 - - 198,817 -24,664
1979 - - 197,578 -29,515
1978 - - 194,933 -30,284
1977 - - 191,557 -30,423
1976 - - 186,762 -30,612
1975 - - 182,258 -30,886
1974 - - 174,484 -31,178
1973 - - 168,258 -31,472
1972 - - 161,648 -31,672
1971 - - 155,249 -31,651
1970 - - 149,380 -31,370
1969 - - 142,660 -11,469
1968 - - 137,315 -5,447
1967 - - 131,938 -5,298
1966 - - 127,164 -5,129
1965 - - 122,814 -5,023
1964 - - 117,197 -4,851
1963 - - 114,555 -4,676
1962 - - 110,173 -4,428
1961 - - 106,318 -4,043
1960 - - 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/vatican/zambia | CC BY

Biggest cities by population

Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between the Vatican and Zambia

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/vatican/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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